Government - Ch 4 Study Guide Vocab
Montesquieu
The ideas of the separation of powers came from him.
Dual federalism
(1790-1930) The time period during which national and state governments were seen as equal authorities, operating over separate areas of influence, and the authority of national government was generally limited to the expressed powers listed in the Constitution; also called "layer cake" federalism
Cooperative federalism
(1930-1960) An era of federalism during which the national and state government shared functional authority in broad policy areas; also called "marble cake" federalism
Creative federalism
(1960-1980) The period in which the national government channeled federal funds to local governments and citizen groups to address problems that states could or would not address; also called "picket fence" federalism
New federalism
(1980-present) The modern era in federalism in which authority that rested with the national government is being returned to the states; also called "devolution"
Devolution
(1980-present) The modern trend in federalism in which more power is given back to the states; also known as new federalism
Supremacy clause
A clause of the U.S. Constitution that declares the Constitution "the supreme law of the land."
Categorical grants
A federal grant that can only be used for a specific purpose, or category, of state and local spending; these grants usually require that the state contribute money in addition to the national money
Fiscal federalism
A system of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system
Necessary and proper clause
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution, which gives the national legislature the power to "make all laws that are necessary and proper"; also known as the Elastic Clause
Grants-in-aid
Federal funds given to state and local governments for specific projects
Block grants
Federal grants given to state and local governments for broad purposes, such as welfare, community development, public health, or education
Supreme court
The highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices and taking judicial precedence over all other courts in the nation.
McCulloch v. Maryland
In this case, the Supreme Court held that Congress has implied powers derived from those listed in Article I, Section 8. The "Necessary and Proper" Clause gave Congress the power to establish a national bank.
Doctrine of secession
The idea that a state had the right to separate from the Union
Federal mandates
Regulations that the national government imposes on state and local governments
Doctrine of nullification
The belief that the states had the right to cancel federal laws with which they disagreed
Federalism
The form of political organization in which power is divided among a central government and territorial subdivisions
Implied powers
The powers assumed by the government that are not specifically listed in the Constitution
Expressed powers
The powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution
Reserved powers
The powers that are not specifically granted to the federal government nor denied to the states that are reserved for the states
Concurrent powers
The powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments
Full faith and credit clause
The provision of the Constitution that requires each state to honor the public acts, official records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Inherent powers
Those delegated powers of the Constitution that are assumed to belong to the national government because it is a sovereign state